The ABS Health and Vitals team is pleased to announce the release of its latest publications, Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3303.0) and Perinatal Deaths, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3304.0). For the first time these publications include two years of revised data. The revisions process has been applied to coroner certified deaths for the 2007 and 2008 reference periods, which were released as part of the 2009 publications. The data revisions impact most notably on deaths from external causes (i.e. those resulting from violence, accidents and suicides) where an increased number of deaths have been classified into more specific areas according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Notes guiding interpretation are included in the publication.

Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3303.0), released on 3 May, presents statistics on the number of deaths by cause, reference year, sex and state or territory of usual residence. The publication focusses on key causes such as heart disease and cancer, while also providing commentary on selected health conditions and diseases that contribute to the burden of disease in Australia. In addition, information is presented on Suicides, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths and Multiple Causes of Death (underlying and/or associated causes of death).

Perinatal Deaths, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3304.0) released on 17 May was originally included in the annual Causes of Death publication, but since the 2007 reference year has had its own dedicated publication. Perinatal Deaths Australia comprises stillbirths (fetal deaths) and deaths of infants within the first 28 days of life (neonatal deaths).

Over the coming months an analysis of the revisions process will be conducted along with a review of cause of death outputs.